Hog-breeding crate.



H. G. CARR.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l H. G. CARR. HOG BREEDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'I, 1906.

Patented Mar. 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HOWARD G. CARE, OF I-IOOPEST'ON, ILLINOIS.

HOG-BREEDING CRATE.

and the objects of my invention are, first to provide an improved method of relieving a small sow of a part or all of the weight of a large male during servlce; second, to provide an improved method of supporting a small boar at the proper height while serving a large sow in which the head-board used in the first instance also serves as a platform for supporting the bear in the second instance, thereby reducing the amount of material usually used, and the cost of producing the crate. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a detailed view in perspective of the internal parts of the crate as used to mate a sn'iall sow with a large boar. Fig. 2 is a detailed view in perspective of the front end of the crate as used in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the lower end of the head board and the under side of the adjusting bar. Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the crate after being converted for use in breeding a large sow to a small boar. Figs. 5 and 6 are a. front and a side view of the pulleys 28 and their supports 28. Fig. 7 shows the method of attaching the head board to the top cross piece. Fig. 8 shows the same with the lower end of the head board drawn forward. Fig. 9 shows the method of clamping the top crossbar to the upper side members of the crate. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View on the line of c, c in Fig. 1.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The vertical posts 1, the horizontal strips 2, the end strips 3, the short vertical posts 12 and the bottom 5 constitute the framework of the crate. Secured to the forward ends of the upper side members 2 are the boxings 6 in which rotates the shaft 7. Se cured to the right hand boxing 6 is the pawl (3 fitted to the end of the shaft 7 is the ratchet wheel 7 and the crank 7 Secured to the upper edge of the lower member 3, and forming the upper edge of the rectangu- Specifieation ofLetters Patent.

Application filed May 7, 19.06.

Patented Mar. 1, 1.91.0.

Serial No. 315,668.

lar opening 8 through which slides the adjusting bar 26, is the member 3, having through its center a hole 10 for the reception of the pin 11. Secured to the lower two members 2 on either side of the crate and adjacent and parallel with the rear verti :al posts 1 are the posts 12, the space between them and the rear posts 1 being sufficient to receive and allow the ends of the bar 13 to be raised or lowered freely. Adjacent the lower end of the rear uprights 1 are the plurality of holes 1e for the reception of the pins 15, the uprights 12 are fitted with corresponding holes. Near the upper ends of the rear vertical posts 1 are placed the staples 27 for the reception of the pully 1 standards 28 when the crate is used to breed a large sow to a small boar.

The rear cross bar 13 is composed of an upper and a lower part secured through the blocks 16 to each other, giving a space between the two for the reception of the ends of the foot rests 17. The space between the upper and lower members of 13 being greater than the thickness of the foot rests 17, extending through the upper member of 13 and into the lower member of 13 are the holes 18 for the reception of the pins 19.

The holes 18, for the reception of the pins 19, in the rear ends of the foot rests 17 are oblong holes, the sides being parallel with the sides of the foot rests, so as to provide a hinge joint allowing the front ends of the foot rests to describe vertical arcs when actuated by the operator at the crank 7*. The forward ends of the footrests 17 are fitted with the screw hooks 17 into which are hooked the rings 7 secured to the ends of the ropes 7 secured to the shaft 7. Secured to the floor 5 by the staple 5 is the ring 5" with the rope 5 attached.

Secured across the upper members 2 by the hooks 20 is the top cross bar 21, said hooks having their upper portions rounded and threaded and fitted with nuts and washers that the bar 21 may be moved along the members 2 and clamped securely to them at any desired place.

In Fig. 1 the upper cross bar 22 of the head board sits just below the cross bar 21 and is secured to the cross bar 21 by the pins 23 which are placed in the holes 2st with their lower ends protruding into the holes 25 in the member 22 which are made larger in diameter than the diameter of the pins 23 so as to provide a hinge joint that the lower end of the head board may be swung freely forward or backward in the crate with the bar 26. The cross pieces 22, the uprights 29, the members 30 with the parts 31 The under side of the front bar 26 is fitted at the smaller end on the under side with the hook 35 which in operation is dropped from the upper side into the staple 36, providing means of pulling the lower end of the head board forward in the crate, the plurality of holes in the bar 26 are for the reception of the pin 11, providing means of keeping the lower end of the head board in desired position at the ends of the upper cross member 22 are placed the hooks 34.

In operating the crate to breed a small sow to a large boar the pins 15 are removed and the cross bars 13 dropped to the bottom of the crate and the pin 11 removed and the lower end of the head board pulled forward in the crate with the bar 26 after which the sow is enticed into the crate and the rear bar 13 is raised to a height suitable to the size of the sow and secured by passing the pins 15 through the proper holes in the rear vertical posts 1, the holes 37 in the ends of cross bar 13 and the holes in the short posts 12, the lower end of the head board is then pushed back with the adjusting bar 26 until the sow is back against the rear bar 13 with her nose well through the oval opening in the head board. The free end of the rope 5 is then passed over her back and down through the ring 5 and secured to the pin 38 on the lower right hand member 2. The pins 19 are then removed and the foot rests 17 placed at the sides of the sow and the pins replaced in the proper holes of the plurality of holes 18, the rope 17 secured to the under side of the left foot rest 17 is passed under the sow and secured to the pin 17 c on the right foot rest 17. The boar is then let into the crate, and after he gets in position with his fore feet Over the foot rests 17 they are then raised by rotating the shaft 7 by the crank 7 The foot rests are held in position by the ratchet wheel 7 d and the pawl 6 after adjustment.

In converting the crate for use in breeding a large sow to a small boar the bar 26 is unhooked from the staple 36, the pins 23 removed and the upper end of the head board swung backward and then lifted out of the crate, the pulley standards 28, re-

1OVGCl and placed in the staples 27, the oval opening in the head board closed with the slide 33 and secured with the pin 39. The head board is placed at the rear of the crate with upper end next to the crate and the rings at the free ends of the ropes 7 secured I to the shaft 7, hooked into the hoops 34-.

The sow is secured as before and after the boar gets in position on the head board the shaft 7 is rotated thereby raising the forward end of the head board until the boar is at the proper height, the pawl 6 holding it after adjustment. Near the upper end of the members 2.) of the head board is placed the staples 40 for the reception of the pulley standard 28.

I claim:

The combination, in a hog-breeding crate, of the frame of the crate with 2 staples attached to the 2 rear vertical posts, a ring with a rope attached stapled to the floor, a rotating shaft, with a ratchet wheel, a crank, and two ropes with rings attached secured to said shaft, a pawl in mesh with said ratchet wheel, a top cross bar and clamp for clamping the bar to the frame of the crate, a

head board attached to the top cross bar with a hinged joint, and having staples se cured thereto with removable pulley standards, with pulleys attached, placed in said staples, and with an oval opening adapted to be closed by a slide door, a plurality of holes and a pin for securing slide door in the head board, the said head board having two screw hooks at the ends of its upper cross member for the purpose specified, an adjusting bar attached to the lower end of the head board with a plurality of holes and a pin for securing lower end of head board in desired position in the crate, a rear cross bar attached to the fran'lc of the crate, a pair of foot rests with one end attached to the rear cross bar with a hinged joint permitting the free ends of the footrests to move 1n vertical arcs, said rotating shaft, crank and ropes serving to actuate the footrests in said arcs during the act of coitiou, and a rope and a pin attached to the foot rests, all substantially as specified.

HOlVARD Gr. CARR. lVitnesses M. MCCORMICK, \V. L. CowAN. 

